The emperor, however, leered down on them with loveless eyes, bluer than ice and sharper than a sword.
“The servant is at his master’s whim but I warn you Lenton if you distract my court and show disrespect in my house, it shall be given in kind.” He shrank under her gaze and Anaiah felt a hint of pleasure at Lenton’s experience mirroring Martin’s own.
“Of course my lord.” He bowed, the blackened stripe up his back showed as he completed the gesture. He glowered at Martin.
“You are not of my house anymore. Collect your affects and be gone.” Martin half relieved and half terrified said nothing. He managed a tremble and a nod before he scurried off through the gobsmacked crowd.
“Young lady DuPont,” the emperor began “Whether or not you feel insulted it is poor form to accost a man who has rightful grievances.” She said her tempered voice measured against her displeasure. Her icy eyes levelled on Anaiah. “Very rightful.” She intoned. “The both of you have shown a disregard for my court. It is most unbecoming of house DuPont.” While the words light in comparison to what they could’ve been, Anaiah felt them stab into his heart. He clasped his hands behind his back, his fingernails digging into his palms through his gloves, a cold sweat beading over his skin. “Let us dwell no more on this interruption.” She decreed and lifted her sun kissed hand at the band’s conductor. He started up the band and wave of murmurs swelled with music.
Anaiah didn’t register his mother’s approach until she stood at his side. He turned to her, his heart desperate for comfort but her stoic face stopped him.
“The two of you with me; we’re going home. Now.” Her voice cut and both Khloe and Anaiah started at the sound of her. She regarded them with ill-concealed rage. They trailed after her, the crowd parted and people whispered behind their hands as they passed. Anaiah’s heart throbbed with every step almost unable to keep his feet as he felt the whispers continue behind their backs. They returned to the carriage, no sign of their father. Khloe jumped into the carriage and thudded down in her seat across from Anaiah who couldn’t meet her gaze. Lady DuPont seated herself and bade the driver to take them home. As the carriage yanked into a steady roll Khloe kicked Anaiah in the shin.
“I hope you’re happy with yourself, you great idiot!” she snapped. “Father’s right about your uncontrollable magic, I have no idea why he has ever bothered having you at these things. You’re nothing but a-”
“I got him sacked…” Khloe’s puzzled face stared back at him.
“What?”
“Martin.” Anaiah rasped. Khloe scoffed at him, folding her arms.
“That boy you were about to start fawning over?” Anaiah glared at his sister.
“It wasn’t that way, not like you would know.” He sniped back.
“I want silence for the rest of this carriage ride.” Their mother’s voice jolted them. “Not another word out of either of you. You’ve disrespected me, your father, and your sovereign, the least I can ask from you two is a quiet ride home.” Anaiah watched his mother, his eyes tearing. The quiet sweet woman from earlier in the evening faded. Before him, the mother he embarrassed, the only person whose opinion mattered. His stomach turned.
“M-mother, please I-I didn’t mean to- …it-it was a huge misunderstand-” his voice broke.
“Anaiah.” She said, her eyes cold. “I’m not unaware of how you feel, or of how petty lord Lenton is. I expect better judgement from you; I put my faith in you to be on your own and to represent this house well. Having a row with a fellow courtier is not acceptable.”
“B-but mother, the things he said, what he did-”
“Were likely hurtful and spiteful, there are ways to handle these situations which don’t include lighting a man on fire.”
“And can you imagine the fit father will throw?” Khloe added through her scowl. Anaiah’s heart sped up and he wrung his hands on his lap, his face gaunt in the changing shadows within the carriage. The sound of cracking glass emanated throughout the chassis, slow fissures formed in the windows.
“Anaiah, stop.” His mother’s soft demand couldn’t stop him. Anaiah felt the hum in his skin as his own panic reflexes threatened to unravel the carriage.
“It is this nonsense right here that got us kicked out; I think you should wear magic dampeners like father wants.” Khloe sniped.
“Khloe enough!” both of them jumped.
“You are as much in the wrong as he is, slapping lord Lenton across the face, I don’t care the reason you were entirely out of line.”
“And Lenton wasn’t?”
“I hoped I could introduce you to the emperor and have you acquainted with the head of V’rdyne’s Ladies. Now you’ll be seen as a brawling cuss.” Lady DuPont let out a long sigh. “There will be hell to pay when your father comes home.” The shattering carriage windows caused the driver to pull the reins, horses braying at the abrupt stop. He jumped down from his perch and had his face in the window in an instant, removing his hat.
“Are you alright?” Glass littered their laps and the carriage floor.
“We’re alright Hubert, please continue driving.” The older man shambled back up to his seat, shaken.
“Good going, Anaiah. Now father can be angry he has to have the windows replaced, too.” Anaiah did his best not to sob, but tears ran down his face regardless. He’d come apart at the seams from the inside and he couldn’t keep his magic in check. His mind raced through every possible angry thing his father could do or say, how foolish he’d been at court when others already whispered about him.
As the carriage rolled forward, Anaiah threw open the door and jumped out in glistening glass hail, slamming it behind him.
“Anaiah!” his mother shouted through the broken windows.
“It’s better for you if I walk home.” He said. He raised his hand; pulling at an airy tendril he cracked it like a whip. The frightened horses charged forward, small broken glass chunks tumbled out the windows in the carriages wake. Khloe stuck her head out the window after her brother. An empty lifeless road all she could see in the dark.
Comments (1)
See all